Rebecca Gayheart has opened up about her late ex-husband Eric Dane’s decision to document his struggles with addiction, family life, and his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in his memoir, 'My Book of Days,' which will be released on November 3.
In an interview with People, Gayheart revealed that the 'Grey’s Anatomy' actor was initially hesitant to share his personal struggles, but said she is “grateful he did” because the book will allow their daughters, Billie, 16, and Georgia, 14, to know their father on a deeper level.
Dane died on February 19, 2026, at the age of 53, just months after his ALS diagnosis. Gayheart reflected on the family’s experience during his final months, when the actor was determined to spend as much time as possible with his daughters. “We tried to be present through all of our fear and frustration and uncertainty,” she told People, describing the period as “truly an exhausting and heartbreaking experience.”
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS, is a degenerative disease that causes individuals to gradually lose the use of their limbs. The condition became known worldwide thanks to a famous sufferer, the late British scientist Stephen Hawking.
Click through to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this condition.